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Dereck Lively II · As he contemplated the ways in which he could keep his extraordinary rookie season alive with his Dallas Mavericks pushed to the brink of elimination, Dereck Lively II summarized his mindset going into Game Four of the NBA Finals through a brief, six-word statement: “We’ve just got to make history.” Having already found success in that goal time-and-time again throughout his opening campaign, Lively II decided he had a little something different in mind in the win-or-go-home situation. Camped along the far-right corner in unfamiliar territory, the fearless first-year center spots up, connecting on the first-ever 3-pointer of his career, becoming the youngest player in Finals history to do so in the process. Feeding off of Lively II’s unphased approach, the Dallas Mavericks also found their rhythm on the way to a 38-point, season-saving win over the Boston Celtics, pushing their deficit to 3-1. History would be kind to the 2023-24 All-Rookie Second Team selection on June 14, 2024, as he turned in 11 points, 12 rebounds, one steal, and one 3-pointer, becoming just the first 20-year-old since 1980 to put forth multiple double-doubles in a Finals series. · State of Mint